Apparatus and method for controlling a battery

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling a battery are disclosed to charge the battery by a certain device or discharge the voltage charged in the battery to the certain device based on configuration information and status information of the battery. A system for charging of an electric vehicle battery leveraging smart power grid technology, the system comprising: a wireless communication unit configured to establish a wireless communication session with a wireless device and receive control information relating to battery charge management for an electric vehicle battery; a memory configured to store one or more characteristics of an electric vehicle battery charge station; a detection unit configured to identify battery status information for the electric vehicle battery; and a controller configured to generate a control signal based on at least two of the control information, the battery status information, and the characteristics; wherein the control information includes information that can be used to identify a target capacity for the electric vehicle battery.

1 . A process of using a wireless device to facilitate charging of an electric vehicle battery leveraging smart power grid technology, the process comprising:
 establishing a wireless communication session between a wireless device and an electric vehicle battery charge station;   identifying one or more characteristics of the electric vehicle battery charge station;   obtaining control information from a user of the wireless device relating to battery charge management for an electric vehicle battery;   storing the control information to a database;   identifying battery status information for the electric vehicle battery;   generating a control signal based on at least two of the obtained control information, the identified battery status information, and the identified characteristics; and   indicating to the user, by leveraging a user interface of the wireless device, power transfer information;   wherein the obtained control information includes information that can be used to identify a target capacity for the electric vehicle battery.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is generated based on the obtained control information and the identified battery status information. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is generated based on the obtained control information and the identified characteristics. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is generated based on the identified battery status information and the identified characteristics. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the power transfer information relates to a power transfer function performed in association with the generated control signal. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the generated control signal to a battery charging/discharging management unit. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is generated based on the obtained control information and the identified battery status information to the exclusion of the identified characteristics, and the control signal is generated at the wireless device and transmitted to the electric vehicle battery charge station. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the electric vehicle battery charge station includes a power meter, a charging unit, and a wireless communication interface. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein identifying one or more characteristics of the electric vehicle battery charge station includes determining the identity of an entity associated with the electric vehicle battery charge station. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein identifying one or more characteristics of the electric vehicle battery charge station includes determining charge characteristics of the electric vehicle battery charge station. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the charge characteristics relate to a cost of power associated with the electric vehicle battery charge station. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein determining charge characteristics includes:
 determining one or more of a peak cost, an average cost, or a minimum cost of power associated with the electric vehicle battery charge station for a given time period; and   using at least one of the determined peak cost, average cost, and minimum cost to generate the control signal.   
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12 , further including:
 determining a peak cost of power associated with the electric vehicle battery charge station for a given time period;   identifying a threshold based on the peak cost;   comparing a present power cost to the threshold;   determining that the present power cost satisfies the threshold; and   generating a control signal to invoke a power transfer between the electric vehicle batter and the electric vehicle battery charge station, responsive to the determining.   
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining control information includes:
 soliciting control information from a user of the wireless device, the control information relating to battery charge management for the electric vehicle battery; and   receiving the control information provided by the user.   
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein establishing the communication session between the wireless device and the electric vehicle battery charge station includes establishing a wireless communication session between an electric vehicle that includes the electric vehicle battery and the electric vehicle battery charge station. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein establishing the communication session between the wireless device and the electric vehicle battery charge station further includes establishing a wireless communication session between the wireless device and the electric vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the obtained control information includes an indication of a charge start time and a charge duration and the control signal indicates that a battery charging function is to start at the indicated charge start time and last for no longer than the indicated charge duration. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the obtained control information includes an indication of a discharge start time and a discharge duration and the control signal indicates that a battery discharging function is to start at the indicated charge start time and last for no longer than the indicated discharge duration. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the obtained control information includes an indication of a monetary value and wherein the control signal indicates that the battery is to be charged or discharged until an amount of power equal to the indicated monetary value has been charged to or discharged from the battery. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the obtained control information includes an indication of one or more of a target charge capacity, a target discharge capacity, a target charge percentage, or a target discharge percentage and wherein the control signal indicates that a power transfer function is to occur with respect to the battery until the indicated target charge capacity, target discharge capacity, target charge percentage, or target discharge percentage is satisfied. 
     
     
         21 . A system for charging of an electric vehicle battery leveraging smart power grid technology, the system comprising:
 a wireless communication unit configured to establish a wireless communication session with a wireless device and receive control information relating to battery charge management for an electric vehicle battery;   a memory configured to store one or more characteristics of an electric vehicle battery charge station;   a detection unit configured to identify battery status information for the electric vehicle battery; and   a controller configured to generate a control signal based on at least two of the control information, the battery status information, and the characteristics;   wherein the control information includes information that can be used to identify a target capacity for the electric vehicle battery.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the wireless device is an electric vehicle that includes the electric vehicle battery. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the wireless communication unit is further configured to establish a wireless communication session with an electric vehicle that includes the electric vehicle battery, and the wireless communication unit receives the control information from the wireless device. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the wireless device includes a user interface for indicating, to a user, power transfer information relating to a power transfer function performed in association with the control signal. 
     
     
         25 . A system for charging of an electric vehicle battery leveraging smart power grid technology, the system comprising:
 a wireless communication unit configured to establish a wireless communication session with a wireless device;   a memory configured to store one or more characteristics of an electric vehicle battery charge station;   means for obtaining control information from a user of the wireless device relating to battery charge management for an electric vehicle battery;   a detection unit configured to identify battery status information for the electric vehicle battery; and   a controller configured to generate a control signal based on at least two of the control information, the battery status information, and the characteristics;   wherein the control information includes information that can be used to identify a target capacity for the electric vehicle battery.